Blogmas Day 7: How to Decorate Your Christmas Tree when you Have Dogs with High Powered Tails

This is an instructional post on how to decorate your Christmas tree when you have dogs with high powered tails, so as to minimize the number of Christmas ornaments violently knocked off your Christmas tree by aggressively wagging dog tails. This is something I have learned the hard way as I have suffered many a Christmas ornament casualty in my years as a new dog mom. 

Firstly, your tree must be divided into three different sections:

1.) Low risk

2.) Moderate risk

3.) and High risk

The low risk section of your tree means it has the least amount of likelihood that your dogs' tail will take out an ornament in just one swing and have it shatter all over the ground. This risk-area will typically be more towards the top of your tree. In your low risk section of your Christmas tree you want to hang fragile ornaments, ornaments that have potential to break easily, or ornaments you'd rather not have to kill your dog over for breaking it. Example:

Look at all that glass and susceptibility to dying via a wagging dog tail. Death by dog tail.

The moderate risk-area of your tree has increased likelihood to have ornaments knocked off its branches with a few swipes of your doggo's tail. You will usually find your moderate risk-area around the mid-sections of your Christmas tree. Your moderate risk area may be subject to change depending on the height of your pet. Here, you can hang ornaments that are durable, cheap, or replaceable so as to mitigate the amount of heartache in the event a high powered wagging tail claims another victim. Example:

See? Nice and plastic.

Lastly, the high risk section of your Christmas tree (per process of elimination) is the lowermost part of your tree. Here, your ornaments are very likely to get knocked off your tannenbaum frequently and at high speeds. Hang either your unbreakable ornaments or nothing at all in this risk-area. I suggest soft, stuffed ornaments, similar to that of a pillow. Example:

This soft ornament gets hit deep into right field? No problem - pick it up, dust it off, return to tree. No harm no foul. 

Should you decorate your tree in accordance to the aforementioned risk assessment, you will save

both you and your puppers the heartache (or punishment) of suffering from broken and shattered

Christmas tree ornaments. You will also no longer have to consider chopping off your dogs’ tail because let’s face it, nobody wants that. That'd be messy.

Blogmas Day 6: Week 1 Friday Five

Blog world circa 2012 used to do this thing where every Friday we'd write about five highlights from the week. Some variation of "High Five for Friday" or "Friday Five" or something like that and I always thought it was fun for a couple reasons: 1.) It requires you to reflect on your week and pick out the good things, and 2.) Gives you a guaranteed blog post idea every week. A win-win if you ask me. So as it's the first Friday of Blogmas...let's do this!

1.) Holiday PTO
This week I have been writing most of my posts either in advance or at night after Nate leaves for work, and then posting them in the morning. Thanks to some extra PTO that I have to use or lose before the end of the year, I have some nice days off sprinkled throughout the month of December which means Blogmas Day 6 is coming to you hot off the press on the actual morning of December 6th, accompanied by a cup of coffee with Peppermint Mocha creamer and the "Christmas Jazz" Spotify playlist playing nicely in the background, while my Bath and Body Works Frosted Cranberry candle burns next to me. It's a good morning, guys.

2.) My She Reads Truth Advent Study came in the mail (insert praise emoji hands here)

 (Source)

(Source)

I've been purchasing and following this Advent study by She Reads Truth for three years now, and I've loved every year. The book itself is such high quality and offers so much more than daily readings. They include some holiday recipes, DIY Christmas decorations, sheet music, stuff like that. The aesthetics of the book and its contents are always so beautiful but most importantly - being in the Bible and truly remembering the reason for the season - as they say, adds so much to my holiday season!

3.) CHRISTMAS TREE FARM by Taylor Swift

That is in all caps because it accurately portrays how much I love this song and the amount of Christmas cheer within every hook, lyric, and note. Ms. Swift has decided to bless our holiday season with a true Christmas bop ("bop" - that's what the kids say these days right?). Go listen now or watch the music video which is comprised of baby Taylor frolicking in the snow on her actual Christmas Tree farm she grew up on (*heart melts*).

4.) We got our Christmas photos back and please just look at this picture of my dogs, gazing up to the sky as the heavens part and the sun shine downs on them to bless their beautiful doggo souls 

As I mentioned in my last post, dogs in family photos is not the easiest thing to do but Jennica always puts up with our shenanigans anyway and she does a freakin' good job at it. Besides the photos, please just look at her adorable packaging:

A S'mores kit, you guys. For S'more memories. Round of applause, please.

5.) The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Do y'all remember reading this book as a kid? This book was THE JAM. And because we love all things nostalgia, Jennica and I are re-reading it for the Christmas season. Is it a children's book? Yes. Can it be finished in one sitting? Also yes. Is that any reason to not revisit this as an adult? Absolutely not. 

What are your highlights of the week?!

Blogmas Day 5: Christmas TBT - Christmas Photo Edition

It's Throwback Thursday Christmas photo edition because guess what? That's what I'm in the mood for on this 5th day of Blogmas: a trip down memory lane.

We're throwing it back to 2011 to begin with because that was the year I made the very adult decision to start taking family photos and send out Christmas cards accompanied by a nice long Christmas letter because it's me and I love to write and ramble on paper. Some might say Christmas letters are an exercise in futility in the age of social media (as in, everyone already knows what you've been doing all year long) but to that I say pshaw! It's fun and nostalgic and PRO TIP: if you collect all your letters year after year and put them in a scrapbook with your Christmas photos it makes for excellent memory keeping!

I just told y'all that I still write out Christmas letters and scrapbook...does this make me old fashioned? Do people still scrapbook? Am I behind the times? Whatever, I will ponder this later.

So anyway, what I was saying is that 2011
was our inaugural Christmas family photo. Dogs required because dogs are people too.

Shout out to my dad who took these photos and my mom who stood next to him saying over and over again, "Where's the birds?!? Maycee where's the birds?!" so that Maycee would actually look at the camera. That's why her eyes look like she wants to murder you - because she thinks there's dead birds nearby to be retrieved. Also RIP to the best curled hair I've ever managed to do myself and in eight years have been unsuccessful in duplicating.

2012 

Maycee still on the lookout for those birds...

2013 

Gunther sitting up tall and proud like goodest most handsomest boy he knows that he is. 

On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer, and Vixen, Comet, and Cupid, and Maycee and Gunther.

2014

The first year my dear friend Jennica of Amaes Photography started taking our photos. We went up north for the day to cruise around and find some cool spots this year, and they are some of my most favorite photos. Dogs obviously still in tow because as discussed, dogs are people too. 

2015

I can't not have my dogs in my Christmas photos but I'm not gonna lie, trying to get them placed and posed nicely mostly just sounds like, "Maycee come here! No Gunther, I said Maycee. Gunther lay down. No, come over here and lay down. Maycee sit. STAY. Both of you STAY. No, Maycee stay THERE." We are a shit show most of the time but Jennica makes us look nice and normal in our photos and for that I am thankful. 

(actual birds in this photo and homegirl would not be deterred)

2016

Perhaps my favorite year because AS we were taking our photos it literally started to snow. SNOW!

2017

Tried to get Gunther off the log but he wasn't having it. Tried to get Maycee on the log but she was also not having it. You win some you lose some. 

2018

Serious Forbidden Forest vibes this year and I was/am still living for it.

Can't wait to add 2019 to the collection! 

Blogmas Day 4: Hallmark Christmas Movies are Predictable as Hell but I Will Never Stop Watching Them

Hallmark Christmas movies have been a staple in Christmas culture (Christmas culture? Is that a thing or did I just make that up?) for some time now. Whether you love them or hate them (or perhaps a little bit of both?), come October they are comin' in hot and they are not leaving until January. So buckle up betches, it's Hallmark season!

I'm a little embarrased to say I only just discovered the Hallmark Channel no joke like, two years ago. But since then it has been a joy and a true Christmas honor to spend much of my free time parked on my couch watching a big city career woman fall for a rugged family man in a quaint Christmas village and live happily ever after. Or a big time advertising executive return home to his small, rural Christmas town on assignment only to fall back in love with his high school sweetheart under the mistletoe. Wash, rise, repeat.

Are they cheesy, cringey, and predictable as hell? Yes. Does this make me want to ever stop watching them? The answer to that is a resounding no.

I have to be strategic about my Hallmark movie binge sessions though, because if Nate is anywhere near the television and catches a 5 minute glimpse of one of these holiday cinematic masterpieces he literally asks me, "Why do you watch this shit?" I'll tell you why, folks: because Hallmark movies are lovely, ok?? And they are warm, and they are cozy, and festive, and romantic. And because they make me feel good. Every single movie ends with a happy ending. With 40 (forty!) new premieres this year, I don't know what your math skills are like but that's a total of 40 happy endings (forty!) to enjoy and silently say to yourself, "Awwwww!"

Sure Hallmark movies are not realistic, creative, or complex but you know what else they are not? Controversial. Political. Tense (unless of course you want to count the slow burn of a budding small- town romance heeyyoo!). And I don't know about you but controversy, politics, and tension are three things I prefer not to have running amok in my Christmas season. No m'am. I can't and I shan't have any of that.

But I will have an hour and a half of Kellie Pickler and her sweet southern accent, paired nicely with a predictably-timed duet by the piano, for example.

K gotta go Christmas in Rome is on in a few minutes and I haven't seen that one yet.

Happy Hallmarking!

Blogmas Day 3: A Gift Guide for the Harry Potter Fan in Your Life

I'm gonna be real honest with you guys, I have more than one Harry Potter-themed Blogmas post planned for y'all this month because it is me and I cannot help it. And if the Wizarding World isn't magical enough already, CHRISTMAS in the Wizarding World is even more so. Also, I like how they say "Happy Christmas."

Here are five gift ideas for the Harry Potter fan in your life

1.) Harry Potter Illustrated Editions
Illustrated by Jim Kay, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was released in an illustrated edition back in 2015. Since then, we've been getting a Jim Kay illustrated edition roughly each year with the exception of Goblet of Fire, which was released just this October - two years after book three. These books are BEAUTIFUL and a must-have for any Harry Potter fan. The artwork is absolutely gorgeous and I particularly like how Jim Kay's vision of characters and places, don't look anything like the movies. They are unique and a totally different take on Hollywood's version of the Wizarding World. Did I mention the artwork is STUNNING?

2.) 20th Anniversary Bloomsbury House Editions
I would not call myself a collector by any means, but similar to the above-mentioned illustrated editions, the 20th anniversary Bloomsbury House Editions of each Harry Potter book are a must have.  Upon the 20th anniversary of each book's release, Bloomsbury is releasing a House Edition which includes new information and artwork specific to each House, as well as new cover art, again - unique to each House. They are available in paperback or Hardback and so far, books 1-3 are available for purchase. Bloomsbury intends to release a House Edition of all seven books.

3.) A Time Turner by Noble Collection
Because everyone needs a good time turner.

This Noble Collection replica can be worn as a necklace and/or, it comes with a beautiful display box if you want to keep it safe on display on your shelves.

4.) Anything from Mina Lima
Mina Lima created the entire graphic style of all eight Harry Potter movies in addition to the current Fantastic Beasts series, and all graphic elements in Diagon Alley at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando. They created their own design studio in 2009 so lucky for you and me, we can now purchase all sorts of movie replicas from the Wizarding World! Last Christmas Nate got me the Hogwarts Library Journals collection.

Am I ever going to actually write in them? No. Do I display them on my shelves so that I can feel like I'm an actual Hogwarts student in the Wizarding World? Yes. (Am I revealing too much of my inner nerd right now? Also yes.) They even have some gift ideas already collated for you - check them out here!

5.) Out of Print Harry Potter Collection
This website has merchandise with the original US cover art by Marie GrandPre which for me, is so nostalgic and special as it's my earliest memory of Harry Potter. Nothing will ever be more special to me than my original hardbacks, worn and read and tattered with this beloved cover art, and I know I'm not the only one who feels that way. So like, why not make it part of your wardrobe right?

It's incredible the amount of Harry Potter merchandise and collectables coming out even all these years later so, hopefully this short list will help you get a jump start for your favorite witch or wizard in your life!

Happy Christmas!

Blogmas Day 2: A To Do List for Christmas-ing Through Your Holiday Season

Now that we're feeling festive AF after Blogmas Day 1, let's start checking off our Christmas To Do List, shall we?

A To Do List for Christmas-ing Through Your Holiday Season

• Put Bailey's in your hot chocolate and/or coffee. But not your morning coffee before work because your work probably frowns upon showing up with a slight holiday buzz before your day starts. Just a guess.
• Write poems on your Christmas gifts instead of the generic "To: [brother's name] From: [your name]. For example: "Roses are red, Slytherin's Locket is cursed, this gift is for the person whose toots smell the worst." 
• Drink said Bailey's and hot chocolate while you wrap Christmas gifts with poems on them
• Take a picture of snow on a cactus (if you can find it)
• Turn off all the lights in your house except your Christmas tree and holiday lights and spend the evening enjoying the ambience (this is my favorite holiday activity)
• Buy a new pair of cozy socks and/or slippers. Make sure they are festive.
• Buy a Christmas mug. Make sure it is festive.
• Write a Christmas letter this year to send to your family and friends. Like, an actual letter. With words. That you put in the mail and stuff.  
• Write a blog post every day up until Christmas (lol jk you don't have to do this, this one's for me. Unless of course you want to join in which case LESSS DO ET)
• Paint your nails red 
• Play a round of Christmas trivia with your friends or family. Just Google "Christmas trivia" and you'll get lots of results. Also, can anyone tell me if Catch Phrase has a Christmas edition? I have been wanting a Christmas Catch Phrase game for forever now. Help a girl out, pls and thx. 
• Watch every Christmas episode of your favorite TV show
• Buddy read a Christmas-themed book. Or, while you're at it, participate in the Winter Magical Readathon, hosted by Book Roast on Youtube. She has a fancy new website dedicated to all the Magical Readathon's she creates for us; get all the info here!   
• Watch a Hallmark movie and try and guess the entire plot by the time the opening credits are finished 
• Wear a Santa hat in public

What is on your Christmas To Do list?!

Blogmas Day 1: Welcome and Introductions + Make Your Life More Festive. Like, Now.

Hello! Welcome to December and also to this blog that I have failed to post on every single day since the month of August! But you know what? That's ok because it's the dawn of a new day, a new month, a fresh start and I'm just out here tryna to do my best to dust off this 'ol blog because as mentioned, IT IS DECEMBER and Christmas season is upon us and that calls for blog posts, people.

Every Christmas season bloggers come together, where Blogging and Christmas are married and a Blogmas baby is born (blogging + Christmas = Blogmas. See what we did there?). For a time, Blogmas was a thing in blog world but since I am unable to find where all the bloggers went in 2019, I'm not entirely sure if people still do this but yolo, I am doing it. I am standing at the corner of Winslow Arizona Blogging and Christmas, ready to dive in head first and get my Blogmas on for the entire month of December.

So without further ado, I Carissa, take thee Blogmas, to be my December pet project. To have and to hold, and to write, and to post, from this day forward. For better or for worse, in the holiday bustle or the thick of Writer's Block, to love and to cherish and to celebrate all the Christmas-y blessings that are bestowed upon us, 'til December 25th do us part. Amen.

When I told Nate I had the idea of participating in Blogmas I asked him if he thought I could do it and he said, "If you want to." So I said, "I think I want to." And then he said, "Cause once you start, you can't stop." Nate has an inexplicable way of giving really good advice for things he has no idea about, but it always seems to work. And so here we go - we're starting Blogmas and we can't stop! 

Make Your Life More Festive. Like, Now.

I like to fully embrace each and every season as the year goes by - is it spring time? Perfect, pastel's and Easter everywhere! Summer time has finally arrived? Awesome, break out that summer playlist and fireworks! Spooky Season is here closely followed by fall? Love it, leaves and pumpkins all over! There's something to be said for making your life festive year-round no matter what season you're in... and Christmas OBVI, is the most festive season of all. So since this is Blogmas, here are some small things I do, that you should too, to make your December festive every single day. However, substitute "Christmas" or "holiday season" for literally any other season throughout the year and bam you are festive AF all year 'round! 

• Drink out of a Christmas/Holiday mug. I tend to do this with my sports teams too. Is baseball #1 in my heart? Yes. But is baseball in season right now? No. So I shall drink not out of my Dbacks mug but instead, drink from my ASU mug because ASU beat UofA and bowl season is now upon us.

• Buy seasonal flavored food and drinks (e.g. Peppermint Mocha coffee creamer, gingerbread flavored anything, etc.). This also applies to like, hand soaps, shower gel, body lotion, chapstick - buy all the seasonal scents all the time
• Change your phone and/or desktop wallpaper to something with serious Chrimstmas-y vibes
• Light seasonally scented candles (my absolute favorite is Frosted Cranberry followed closely by Fresh Balsam)
• Put on some holiday ambience/ASMR in the background (currently as I write this blogpost I am listening to Hogsmeade at Christmas by ASMR Weekly, who in fact has tons of both Harry Potter Christmas and non-Christmas videos alike. If you want my opinion Harry Potter ASMR is the best kind of ASMR
• Read a book set in the month of December and/or during the holiday season 

• Put up Christmas decorations, duh. This includes but is not limited to your desk/workspace at work, your bedroom, anywhere you want to be reminded that it's Christmas and you are here for all of it
• Play that Christmas music right boooooiii (also a, duh)

Do you feel festive AF yet?!